Restraining collar device for squibbing missile motors

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR RESTRAINING MISSILE MOTORS FOR SQUIBBING. IT COMPRISES AN ALIGNMENT FIXTURE AND A RESTRAINING COLLARASSEMBLY MOUNTED TO A BACK PLACE WHEREBY WHEN A MISSILE IS MOVED INTO ALIGNMENT THE RESTRAINING COLLAR ASSEMBLY ENGAGES THE MISSILE HOOK OR HANGER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE MOTOR CASING THEREBY ACCURATELY POSTIONING THE MISSILE SO THAT CURRENT WILL FLOW. ONLY WHEN ACCURATELY POSITIONED WILL THE MISSILE MOTOR BE SQUIBBED.

Nov. 16, 1971 A. G. BARRETT ET AL RESTRAINING COLLAR DEVICE FORSQUIBBING MISSILE MOTORS Filed April 25. 1970 a r N rO cu r Q O 7 Wu r0[\m m m 0 cu 01 cu INVENTORS. ALLAN G. BARRETT FRANCIS L. ALBERS BY ROYMILLER ATTORNEY.

3,620,072 Patented Nov. 16, 1971 3,620,072 RESTRAINING COLLAR DEVICE FORSQUIBBING MISSILE MOTORS Allan G. Barrett and Francis L. Albers, ChinaLake, Califl, assignors to the United States of America as representedby the Secretary of the Navy Filed Apr. 23, 1970, Ser. No. 31,332 Int.Cl. G01m 17/00 US. Cl. 73-1174 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adevice for restraining missile motors for squibbing. It comprises analignment fixture and a restraining collar assembly mounted to a backplate whereby when a missile is moved into alignment the restrainingcollar assembly engages the missile hook or hanger on the outside of themotor casing thereby accurately positioning the missile so that currentwill flow. Only when accurately positioned will the missile motor besquibbed.

GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a devicefor restraining missile motors during check-out.

In the missile field it has not been the practice to restrain a missilefor squibbing. Heretofore missiles were laboriously loaded and unloadedfor check-out. The present device provides a safe, reliable, andeconomical means for squibbing missile motors and avoids the delayoccasioned by loading and unloading the missiles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows in section a preferredembodiment of the invention with a missile motor in place;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the restraining collar assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the clamp which engages the missile hook inaccordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawingthere is shown in FIG. 1 a missile 31 resting on a missile stand 19.Stand 19 comprises legs 20, a rail 22 supported on brackets 33 suitablyaffixed to the top of legs 20. A tray 26 for tools extends between legs20 at a predetermined distance below and parallel with rail 22 beingalso atfixed to brackets 33. Legs 20 are provided with castors 21 forease in movement of missile stand 19. A series of rests 32 are securedalong rail 22 for receiving the missile motor 31 likewise a plurality ofsafety straps 23 are attached along rail 22 for purposes of securing themissile motor 31 for check-out. At the rear of rail 22 there is provideda recess 34 for engagement with an alignment pin 11 which is attached towall support beam 10. Wall support beam is supported by a cement wall(not shown). Other means may be used to give the necessary support tosaid beam. A restraining collar assembly 14 is secured to beam 10 whichrestrains and aligns the 5 missile motor 31 for squibbing. Assembly '14on side view resembles a right triangle. It comprises a vertical tubularsteel cylinder 15 of predetermined length fitted over a solid steel post12 which is aflixed by braces 13 to wall support beam 10. Cylinder 15 ismovable with relation to post 12. A release means 16 shown in positionthrough aperture 35 is adapted to control the movement of cylinder 15. Abar member 17 positioned parallel to rail 22 is welded at its distal endto the base of cylinder 15. A knee brace 18 extends from the top ofcylinder 15 to which it is welded to a predetermined point near thefront end of bar 17 to which it is welded. Located near the end of bar17 there is provided a clamp means shown at 30 for engaging the hook orhanger 28 of missile 31 as shown in detail in FIG. 3. Various types ofclamps may be designed which are suitable for attachment to the missile.A switch 25 and switch cover 29 are mounted on the front end of bar 17as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Assembly 14 is movable up and down and aroundpost 12 whereby said assembly can be readily adjusted to engage themissile hook and thereby align the missile.

When it is desired to squib a missile motor, the missile is positionedon rests 32 and strapped to the missile stand 19 and moved to positionagainst plate 10 where alignment pin 11 slides into recess 34 on thestand. Restraining collar assembly 14 is positioned so as to cause clampmeans 30 to engage hook 28 on the missile. When the missile isaccurately positioned, current will flow.

What is claimed is:

1. A restraining collar device for squibbing missile motors of the typeprovided with a hook positioned on the outside of the motor casecomprising in combination with a missile alignment fixture a verticalsupport beam secured to a stationary Wall;

a solid post of predetermined size mounted parallel to said beam andaffixed thereto;

a cylinder positioned around said post and adapted to move with relationto said post;

a bar of predetermined length affixed at its distal end to the base ofsaid cylinder;

a knee brace extending between the top of said cylinder and the frontend of said bar and being aflixed at predetermined points to the top ofsaid cylinder and the front of said bar;

a missile alignment fixture comprising a rail for receiving the missilepositioned parallel to said bar and slidably engaged at its distal endto said vertical support for cooperating with said bar in aligning saidmissile;

said bar being provided with a clamp means positioned near the front endof said bar for engaging and aligning said missile hook; and

a switch means positioned on the front end of said bar adjacent saidclamp adapted to be attached to said hook.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a release means isprovided on said post for controlling the movement of said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,322,913 5/ 1967 Bradstock et al200-6 1.42

JERRY W. MYRACLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 200--6l .42

